Have a rant: On the phone and in your face

Like many HR professionals, I like to use my daily commute as a time to catch up on e-mails, look at reports that have been piling up on my desk, and occasionally indulge in reading Personnel Today.

Lately, however, this sacred time has become increasingly invaded by a cacophony of irritating mobile phone ring tones. One of my fellow passengers this morning, for example, decided to get us all into the Christmas mood with a jazzy rendition of Jingle Bells by the Crazy Frog.

Other ‘highlights’ have included a recording of someone’s boyfriend burping, and a techno version of the Blue Peter theme tune.

Whenever I get the chance, I like to listen to music on the train – but I don’t mean on the phone, I mean on my iPod. People can download whatever tune floats their boat, but why do they have to subject other commuters to their latest acquisitions by converting them into ring tones?

The worst thing is that the trend has now reached the office. One of my HR assistants left her mobile phone behind the other day when she went off for her lunch break, and I was left with it wolf-whistling at me all afternoon.

I am now drafting a policy for other managers in the business suggesting that all employees should leave their phones on silent mode while at work. Call me a killjoy, but if I have to endure it on my way in, I don’t see why I should have to put up with it at work as well.